The First Epistle Of Paul To The Corinthians

1 The First Epistle Of paul To The Corinthians The Argument After that paul had preached at Corinth a year and a half, he was compelled by the wickedness of the Jews to sail into Syria. In whose absence false Apostles entered into the Church, who being puffed up with vain glory, and effectuate eloquence, sought to bring into contempt the simplicity which paul used in preaching the Gospel. By whose ambition such factions and schisms sprang up in the Church, that from opinions in policies and ceremonies, they fell to false doctrine and heresies, calling into doubt the resurrection from the dead, one of the chiefeth points of Christian religion.

2 Against these evils the Apostle proceedeth, preparing the Corinthian s hearts and ears with gentle salutations; but soon after he reproveth their contentions and debates, their arrogancy and pride, and exhorteth them to concord and humility, setting before their eyes the spiritual virtue, and heavenly wisdom of the Gospel, which cannot be persuaded by worldly wit and eloquent reasons, but is revealed by God s Spirit, and so sealed in men s hearts. Therefore this salvation may not be attributed to the ministers, but only to God, whose servants they are, and have received charge to edify his Church, wherein paul behaved himself skillfully, building according to the foundation (which is Christ) and exhorteth others to make the end proportionable to the beginning, taking diligent heed that they be not polluted with vain doctrine, seeing they are the Temple of God.

3 And as for those which doubted of his Apostleship, he sheweth them that he dependeth not on man s judgment, albeit he had declared by manifest signs that he never sought his own glory, neither yet how he might live, but only the glory of Christ; which thing at his coming he would declare more amply, to the shame of those vain glorious braggers, who sought themselves only, and therefore suffered most horrible Vices unreproved and unpunished, as incest, contentions, pleadings before infidels, fornication, and such like, to the great slander of the Gospel. This done, he answereth to certain points of the Corinthian s letter, as touching single life, duty of marriage, of discord and 1 2dissention among the married, of virginity, and second marriage.

4 And because some thought it nothing to be present at idol service, seeing in their heart they worshipped the true God, he warneth them to have respect to their weak brethren, whose faith by that dissembling was hindered, and their consciences wounded, which thing rather than he would do, he would never use that liberty which God had given him. But forasmuch as pride, and self will was the cause of those great evils, he admonisheth them by the example of the Jews not to glory in these outward gifts, whose horrible punishment for the abuse of God s creatures, ought to be a warning to all men to follow Christ uprightly, without all pollution and offence of others.

5 Then he correcteth divers abuses in their Church, as touching the behavior of men and woman in the assemblies of the Lord s Supper, the abuse of the spiritual gifts, which God hath given to maintain love and edify the Church; as concerning the resurrection from the dead, without the which the Gospel serveth to no use. Last of all he exhorteth the Corinthians to relieve the poor brethren at Jerusalem, to preserve in the love of Christ, and well doing, sending his commendations, and wishing them peace. 1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 6 1 Corinthians 8 1 Corinthians 10 1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 16 1 Corinthians 17 1 Corinthians 19 1 Corinthians 22 1 Corinthians 24 1 Corinthians 27 1 Corinthians 28 1 Corinthians 31 1 Corinthians 35 1 Corinthians 1 1 After the salutation, 10 which in effect is an exhortation.

6 12 He reprehendeth the Corinthian s sects and divisions, 17 and calleth them from pride to humility; 20 For overthrowing all worldly wisdom. 23-25 he advanceth only the preaching of the cross. 1 paul called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 Unto the Church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, Saints by calling, with all that call on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both their Lord, and ours: 3 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God, which is given you in Jesus Christ, 5 That in all things ye are made rich in him, in all kind of speech, and in all knowledge; 6 As the testimony of Jesus Christ hath been confirmed in you; 7 So that ye are not destitute of any gift; waiting for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 9 God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak one thing, and that there be no dissensions among you; but be ye knit together in one mind, and in one judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me, my brethren, of you by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 3 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am paul s, and I am Apollos , and I am Cephas , and I am Christ s. 13 Is Christ divided? Was paul crucified for you? Either were ye baptized into the name of paul ?

8 14 I thank God, that I baptized none of you, but Crispus, and Gaius, 15 Lest any should say, that I had baptized into my own name. 16 I baptized also the household of Stephanas; furthermore know I not, whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For that preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us, which are saved, it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will cast away the understanding of the prudent.

9 20 Where is the wise? Where is the Scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness? 21 For seeing the world by wisdom knew not God in the wisdom of God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 Seeing also that the Jews require a sign, and the Grecians seek after wisdom. 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews, even a stumblingblock, and unto the Grecians, foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both of the Jews and Grecians, we preach Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

10 26 For brethren, you see your calling, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. 4 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the mighty things, 28 And vile things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, 29 That no flesh should rejoice in his presence. 30 But ye are of him in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 31 That, according as it is written, He that rejoiceth, let him rejoice in the Lord.